Pages

Monday, December 10, 2012

For some reason, people think that art is magical. That you are born with the "artistic bones" in your body. I think that art is a language skill that you can learn, like learning Spanish or French. It's learning how to speak pictorially, a language that is universally understood.It takes time, effort, practice, dedication, much like learning another language - or anything for that matter. And like any second language, you can learn basic conversation, or strive for fluency. I'm striving for that fluency, and eventually, hopefully I'll have something worth saying. Otherwise, what's the point? (other than a steady job drawing what others tell me to draw.)

Because a lot of people think that drawing ability is a magical god-given talent, it never ceases to thrill and amaze people when I draw them or their pets when I go out and do observational drawings. I love making people happy through art. It makes me feel that what I'm doing is worth while. I did these sketches while at the dog park. I gave the two ladies who owned this dog this sketch and portraits I did of them. One of the girls said "This is why I love Austin. Meet a total stranger and get your portrait done!... This is a day to remember!"

Sorry for the blurry picture, these were taken on the spot because I gave away the drawings so I couldn't scan them.

If you're an artist, go make someone smile with your art! You'll love the way you feel.

Saturday, December 1, 2012

These sketches are from the Desert Museum in Tuscon, where my husband and I spent our Thanksgiving. I like observational sketching. Artists are different. I know some artists find it boring but necessary. I actually enjoy it very much. I'm learning, and practicing and I can make lots of mistakes. At work, drawing is a performance. My boss says, draw me this, and I have to conjure up something from nothing that's pleasing and on schedule - that's a lot of pressure! Observational sketching is relaxing by comparison.

We also went to Kitt Peak. It was actually my most favorite part of my trip. I love science-y stuff. I loved learning about the different telescopes there. It's actually a simple device. It's the engineering of it that's incredibly hard. Learning about materials that are worthy of a lens, overcoming the earth's rotation, high winds, etc... lots to learn. I think that if I didn't become an artist, I would have become a scientist. My dad always said that I had a mind for it, and my dad is a very smart guy :)

Then it was on to the Reid Park Zoo. It's a very well put-together zoo, although they didn't have many animals. Luckily they had different animals from that of my local zoo, so it was still worth going to. Most people can probably breeze through the zoo in an hour, but for an artist that loves to really observe and really watch and draw, I spent a good 5 hours there.

Back in Austin, I sketched at the Austin Zoo. It's always a treat for me if the foxes are out playing. A lot of the times I want to come see them but they're sleeping. When they're out my heart melts. They're so playful and happy. They make the CUTEST sounds. No drawing I've ever done of a fox has done it justice.

Piggehs are always fun to draw. Just a bunch of spheres jammed together

Fox says bye!Goodbye!

I'm sorry I haven't been updating my blog. Life is getting in my way. Doesn't it always? I met a guy named Tell Hicks once on my way to Bisbee, and he was an increidbly focused arist. He gives himself short, midterm and long term goals that he always acheives. I think that's what I'm going to do. I'm going to plan out a calendar of my goals, especially that the new year is coming. I will really try to hit those goals even if I have to skip work days.
In life, you don't know what will hit you next, but you can always count on your own skill.
My father was a fan of Desiderata. Here is a quote from it.
"Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time"
I am but a humble artist now, but I know, because I work hard, my time will come someday to shine.

Also, I'm copying the full text of Desiderata here. My dad often recited it to me from memory. And it calms me every time.

Go placidly amidst the noise and haste, and remember what peace there
may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good
terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen
to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexatious to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for
always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in
your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing
fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of
trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many
persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical
about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as
perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the
things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden
misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many
fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a
child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a
right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is
unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you
conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the
noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its shams,
drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful.Strive to be happy

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Happy Halloween everyone! Sorry I've been absent from my blog. My new job is pretty demanding. But I'm really missing watercolors in a really sick way, so hopefully the fever stays with me and I do more of these.

Sunday, September 23, 2012

I really didn't know what I was missing until I got a Kuretake #13 Brush Pen. Until today, I've only used the disposable felt-tipped "brush" pens made by Tombow and Faber-Castell. The Kuretake makes those pens feel like crap. There is a WORLD of difference. The Kuretake feels like an actual brush. It's soft. The tip gives. There's bristles! The disposable ones feel so stiff, I wouldn't even consider it a "brush" pen after using the Kuretake. I think the only advantage of those is that they're cheap and easier to control, but you loose that beautiful calligraphic look of a real brush. Anyway, if you're into brush pens, you owe it to yourself to get the good stuff :) I heard Pentel Pocket Brush is amazing too and cheaper than the Kuretake #13 that I have. Worth looking into.

I really like the very bold look of brush pen drawing. It's a bit scary though because re-stated lines don't look as nice on a brush pen drawing as they do in pencil. It's definitely for artists that have a brave streak.

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Painted with my best painting buddy Jay today. We decided to paint the dreaded pineapple, our nemesis, because we had such a hard time painting it in the past. This is my first watercolor of a pineapple. My first attempt a long time ago was actually in oils.

Why does the pineapple look like it's rotting? Because it was! It's a week old. It smelled nice while we were painting it though because it was overripe. The painting is a bit sloppy - I was sleepy-painting it because I woke up super early to go to the zoo and draw animals. I think it turned out ok enough to post though. Here are my zoo drawings:

and BEFORE the zoo, I sketched outside of a coffee shop where there was this super cute puppy cocker spaniel:

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Went to the Austin Zoo today! They had moved the foxes to a bigger enclosure, and they were SOOO happy. They were bouncing around, jumping on their houses. They were SO curious, they LOVED watching people. They looked like they were enjoying watching the people as much we enjoyed watching them. They are so beautiful, not just physically, but in their behavior. It's physically impossible to not smile when you are with a fox.

Check out this lazy guy. Someday, I want to slow myself down, find a tree, and sleep underneath it. I now work really close to the Capitol, and the grounds there are always perfect and peaceful. Maybe one day at lunch, instead of eating at my desk or going to the gym, I'll take a blanket to the capitol, lay on the grass and find shapes of things in the clouds. I will tell myself that I don't have any worries, because I'm not a person, but a nice fat lazy piggy and my purpose in life is nothing but to sleep in the dappled light.

Trivia Adventure - a free game that features lots of my art! :)

Buy Original Paintings!

When I Was A Stupid Kid - childhood stories of the artist

About Me

I grew up in the Philippines where I would play among the imposing machines of the printing press that dad owned. I would take stacks of paper scraps, climb towers of cardboard sheets, and draw where no one could find me. I never thought that I was nurturing an art career from a young age. I had always thought I'd be an engineer like my dad.
I tended to my math and science education closely, excelling in those subjects but rarely drawing. I felt bored. College is right around the corner and I still haven't figured what makes me happy.
It dawned on me that I was happiest when drawing. Drawing is problem-solving with creative solutions. Every stroke, slash and dot tests your decision-making skills. When you find the solution, you are rewarded with a beautiful picture.
From then on, serious study began. Now art is my life. When I look back, I can scarcely believe that that kid - that barefoot girl running around the lint-filled air of the printing press - has turned into this woman, who draws and animates for a living. Who would have thought, that sitting on a tower of cardboard, drawing while listening to the white noise of the printing press was the beginning of everything?